the 1972 black hills flood: archiving oral history on the web

The 1972 Black Hills Flood

Archiving Oral History Online

Jason Walker

Public Services and Circulation/Technical Services Supervisor

Marti Fuerst

Public Services Library Associate and Wiki Team Lead

Local Information at your Fingertips

Libraries nationwide are becoming the place for local information.

This includes archiving local and regional events.

The Rapid City Public Library recognized this need in 2004.

Archiving materials on the 1972 Black Hills Flood became the pilot project.

Why Online?

An online collection…

is accessible anywhere, anytime.

is able to reach a wider audience.

allows multiple users simultaneously access.

has digital formats which are easily converted to new standards.

has fewer space constraints.

In the Beginning

The physical collection included

Rapid City Journal articles/publications;

reports from various agencies; and

items from former mayor Don Barnett.

Oral histories were proposed in 2005.

They were originally proposed as just audio.

Interviews would be conducted by staff/volunteers and edited by staff.

The Oral History Project

Staff and volunteers conducted interviews.

For a time, interviews were edited externally.

Videos were streamed through the website and retained on data CDs and DVDs.

The Website

The website is part of the Rapid City Public Library’s website and includes

facts;

transcripts;

reports;

photos; and

The DeWall Collection.

The Wiki

Desire to facilitate sharing written memories lead to the inclusion of a wiki.

What’s a Wiki?

A Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.

Why a Wiki?

It is easily updated by guests and staff.

The project receives a free advanced account with nonprofit status through Wikispaces.

Current Process

Memories added via a form on the wiki.

Staff maintain wiki, conduct, and edit interviews to upload to an online video host.

Staff currently consolidating information onto the wiki.

Other Tools

Flickr

Google Maps

Vimeo

CONTENTdm

Flickr

We use Flickr to map, tag, and create slideshows of photos.

Google Maps

We use Google Maps to maintain a “Memory Map” of the interviews and memories we have collected.

Vimeo

Vimeo is the tool we use to host videos of interviews.

CONTENTdm

We use CONTENTdm to manage digitized items and make them accessible to users.

Community Response

39 interviews have been conducted and 35 are available on the website.

65 written memories have been added to the wiki.

Physical materials are donated for digitization, usually around the anniversary of the Flood.

Library programs held on the anniversary of the Flood are well attended.

Future Plans

1. Develop a digital curriculum packet for South Dakota educators.

2. Coordinate with the University of South Dakota to digitize recordings of oral histories collected in 1973 regarding the flood.

3. Market the resource and solicit interviews from Native American communities.

Conclusion

Local, historical information is in demand on the Internet.

Making oral history available on the Internet reaches a wider audience and preserves memory for future generations.

Wikis and other online tools are an easy and cost-effective way to collaboratively gather historical information.

Video Clip

http://rcflood.wikispaces.com